Salvation Has Conditions

Biblical salvation has conditions

In the great records of the scriptures we see the theme of salvation over and over; Noah and his family saved in the ark upon turbulent waters, Lot and his saved out of the sinful city of Sodom, the children of Israel saved out of the pagan bondage of Egypt and many more living examples; however, there is one great truth that stands out in all these historical examples for us but is seldom understood in its true importance; that is obedience.

Obedience is the critical factor that rests upon every person that claims salvation if they are to realize that eternal gift of God; however, when within common culture today, obedience is swept under the rug of a “just believe and your saved forever” type of mentality and mantra; thus, as is it is an incomplete Gospel.

It wasn't enough for Noah to just believe the flood was going to happen - his belief had to be of sufficient nature to motivate him to take action in obedience to God's instructions and commands. Lot had to take action and place his feet in the direction of obedience and leave Sodom with the angel; acting a participant in his salvation. Likewise, all Israel exercised obedience by applying the blood of a lamb over their door post to preserve the first born from death as the judgment of God passed over the land.

Over and over the sacred scriptures record the faithful acts of obedience of those that were the beneficiaries of God's grace by salvation and preservation. Many people believe that to be saved you only have to believe in Jesus Christ and then your saved forever, but is there more?

What is necessary for salvation?

First, we must realize a few things before we address how to be saved; we must understand how and why salvation is offered to us.

Titus 3:5
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation is available to us as an act of love to us by God to save us from our sins. Not because of anything we have done. It is God's free gift to us.

What is sin?

1 John 3:4 KJV
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. The law referred to here is the 10 Commandments (found in Exodus 20).

Sin is knowingly breaking Gods 10 commandment law and the result is we become law breakers. Where there is a law broken there is a penalty

What is the result or penalty of breaking God's 10 commandment law?

Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned --

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death is the penalty for sin. Adam sinned when he disobeyed God and at that moment he was condemned as a lawbreaker. Because he was the first man, all people after him are condemned to death as lawbreakers also; we have a sinful nature and have also sinned.

If I'm condemned to death as a sinner, how can I be saved? Is God's salvation for me also or just people society considers "good"?

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation is freely given as a gift by God to everyone that will accept the life and death of Jesus in their place. How do we accept the free gift of the life and death of Jesus as our own so we can be saved?

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

We are to believe on Jesus Christ, but is that all? Or are there additional requirements?

Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

From the previous verses, to be saved we must do the following,

A. Turn away from our sins We must admit we are a sinner and that we need Jesus to save us; believing that Jesus will save us. We must be honestly sorry for breaking God's 10 commandment law and have the desire to obey His law by the power of the Holy Spirit; asking by prayer for that power.

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B. Confess all our sins to Jesus Christ so He can forgive and pardon us

Romans 10:10
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Leviticus 5:5
'And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing;

In confession we need to be as specific as possible about the sins we are confessing as we are able by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Although it is impossible to remember every individual sin we committed in our lifetime; our best effort must be exercised to confess as much as we can. Some recite each commandment, asking forgiveness for breaking it.

It is only by following Gods word completely that we can have a change of heart and life. Only God can change our motivations. We need to do make an effort to be obedient to Gods word and when we do, God will change us from the selfish sinnful person we are to a selfless person God desires us to be.